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A review by becandbooks
It's Not Like It's a Secret by Misa Sugiura
2.0
TW: racial slurs and microaggressions, coming out, adultery
This book has so many wonderful things going for it, that I DID WANT to like this book.
Sixteen-year-old Sana Kiyohara has just moved to California with her family. It is here that Sana meets Jamie Ramirez. What follows is a story about falling for a girl, coming out, and dealing with racism and prejudice.
Now, you can already tell this book deals with a LOT of hard-hitting issues. Throw in a storyline that also tackles adultery and you have a book with a massive tick in the diversity column. But just because a book is diverse doesn't make it great.
All in all, I felt this book very teenage-romance insta-love rah rah rah. The audio narration DID NOT help with this. By the time I was halfway through the book I was completely over and done with girly giggles and teen-boppy squeals. I was a teenager once. I did not know anyone who acted like this?
At times, I really appreciated the discussion surrounding racial discrimination and prejudice. At times. There were also many, many times in which I became incredibly infuriated with the way similar issues were handled. I felt some characters were very unessecarily stereotypical in the way they were written. Also the entire debacle of
I respect anyone who is jumping on board with exploring such diverse issues in their writing. I do. But for me, this book just wasn't enjoyable.
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This book has so many wonderful things going for it, that I DID WANT to like this book.
Sixteen-year-old Sana Kiyohara has just moved to California with her family. It is here that Sana meets Jamie Ramirez. What follows is a story about falling for a girl, coming out, and dealing with racism and prejudice.
Now, you can already tell this book deals with a LOT of hard-hitting issues. Throw in a storyline that also tackles adultery and you have a book with a massive tick in the diversity column. But just because a book is diverse doesn't make it great.
All in all, I felt this book very teenage-romance insta-love rah rah rah. The audio narration DID NOT help with this. By the time I was halfway through the book I was completely over and done with girly giggles and teen-boppy squeals. I was a teenager once. I did not know anyone who acted like this?
At times, I really appreciated the discussion surrounding racial discrimination and prejudice. At times. There were also many, many times in which I became incredibly infuriated with the way similar issues were handled. I felt some characters were very unessecarily stereotypical in the way they were written. Also the entire debacle of
Spoiler
Sana's friends pressuring her into dating a guy now that her girlfriend wasn't working out? Because we KNOW you're gay and we understand and respect that BUT MAYBE YOU LIKE BOYS?! Maybe you are wrong in your sexuality and we are right even though we talk about being 100% cis and straight and therefore you should reconsider. I'm sorry but WTAF?I respect anyone who is jumping on board with exploring such diverse issues in their writing. I do. But for me, this book just wasn't enjoyable.
More reviews | Twitter | Pinterest | I cannot live without books (T. Jefferson)